Soda fountain mixer



Dec. 7, 1954 w. 'r. GAFFORD SODA FOUNTAIN MIXER Filed May 5, 1952 William T daffor'd ATTORNEY United States Patent --SODA --FOUNTAI1J MIXER Wi liam ir-Gatford, :Fiii t, Nfich.,.assignor of one-halt to Ger ardt @C- Ver=.'Wiehe,;Genesee tCounty, .Mich.

Application May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,111 *-Claims. "((3l.'259-"108) This invention relates v sodafountain mixers .and, more particularly, :to mixers ;having sanitary and ,antisplash arrangements-forclosing off the interior of the removable mixing cup and .theagitatonhoth during-use and non-use of the mixer.

The mainobject of the invention is toprovide a novel and improved mixer of thischaracter having .a mixing cup of sufiicient height ,to extend upwardly and engage around the housing of the motorof themixer and, together with said motor, .to-form a closure for the cup.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mixing cup as-outlined above whereinsaid engagement of .the cup with themotor'will aid in supporting the cup on :the mixer during operation of the mixer .and will form an upper support forthe cup to permit placing the cup on the mixer in a .po'sitionout .of engagement with thenormal upper cup supporting element and motor switch, and will also closeoff the interior'of the cup and the agitator'when the mixer isnot in operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a mixing cup asset forth above vconstructed'wholly or partially. of non-metallic and semi-resilient material that yieldably .engagesthe vhousingof -.the .motor for; permitting the cup ,to-beelevated to a-position-to engage over .the lower cup supportingelement of the mixerand for eliminating metallic contactofthe cup .with the motor.

.A still furtherobject of the invention is to providean attachment for mixing cups -now. inuse that forms an upward extension which accomplishes the above-specified purposesa-nd that .is provided with a depending pocket therein for .receptionofthe upper cup supporting element during operationof the mixer.

.An additional object of ,the invention resides in the provision of .a mixing .cup for mixers ..of the aboveindicated .character which .is simple and substantial .in construction, which may. bemanufactured =and placed on themarket at aminimurn. cost,..and which is thoroughly eflicient and practical innse.

With the above and other objectsandadvantages.in view, the invention consists of-combinations ,andtgeneral assemblage to .be hereinafteruenlarged upon and pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is illustrated ings, wherein:

' Figure 1 is a side elevation ofa mixer with the improved mixing cup shown -,as being vconstructed .asan attachment to the usual mixing cup;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section takenonline 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a .vertical section taken online :3-3 of Figure 2 With Pa tsbroken away;

Figure 4 is-a fragmentary elevation similar to Figure 1, showing the cup supported on .the mixer when the mixer is.-not-in operation; and

Figure 5 :is'a' sectional view similar .to 'Figure 3, showingga slightly modified form of the invention.

The -Soda.fountain mixer illustrated .may be taken-as conventional or typical and embodies a base 10 from which extends upwardly and slightly rearwardly a standard 11 that has attached to a forwardly projecting upper end 12 thereof a housing 13 of an electric motor. xtending downwardly from the motor housing 13 in advance of the standard 11 is a vertically arranged rotatable stem 14 with agitators 15 thereon. On the forward face of the standard 11 are secured upper and lower cup supporting elements 16 and 17, respectively. The upper element 16 has a downwardly projecting clip 18 in the accompanying .draw- 2,696,370 Ratented .Dec. .7, .1 9.5.4

. an spacedfromcthe-standardiandadapted .to=.engage;inside:the rim ;0f the mixing cup,=;.while thelower element :717 'has a raised-ledges19sonsa:torwardly directed -leg :thereof over whichran.lannularrtllangedshottomcof; thevmixing. cup tengages. A spring-returned, switch-actuating finger.20.projects through v;an opening in {the forward \wallof the standardrll EbehindatheaclipJS land .is .imthegpath .of'movement of itheirimzofztheeupwhentthe cup .is inserted :under the .clip s18 for. :swinging ssaid finger. upwardly against tension of its spring to ;close.a: circuit to :the motor when .the cup is .supportedon the-standardll :and- .under .the clip. 18. The fonward-;.sur:face aofnhe forward :wall of the standard 11.. is .arced inwardly, ;as at. .21, ;and conforms substantially to the curvature of the ;.cylindric.al :twall of the normal mixingcup.

The improved:miximg1 cupiand its-.;construc tion in combination with the above-described type .otxmixer which forms the subject .of. the tpresent invention. is illustrated as consisting. of -the-usualmetallic; mixingmup 22 :with l8. semi-resilient ring-shaped. member 23tattached thereto-and extending upwardlytherefrom. qBecause ofthe manner of support .of the-mixingcuponthe mixer, methodof retaining the=rin rshtiped member .23 on the =metalliccupzpornon-.22, .andt-he fact that the ring-shaped member .23 must ,yieldably --.engage the wmotor housing :13, :it .is -,desired that -;.the vmaterial from which :said ring-shaped member {is .-..constructed .be resilient v.to .a limited degree, and it has been found that polyethylene, .a form of .plastic, is highly suitable for thespurpose.

vThe metallic lower portion 22of the; cup has the customary aboveementioned annular flange .24; projecting .downwardly .from :its bottom and has .the usual outwardly rolled-edge, 25am; ,-it.s-.upper ;and. normally open. end. Engaging around therolled-edge 25 and the adjacent inner surface of the'cup portion l22.is a pair-of downwardly extending annularflangest26 and 27, respectively, formed as partsnof thering-shaped member 23. At the :lower edge of the outer flange 26 i3. .slight1enlargement is .provided in the form of an annular bead 28rfor strengthening theelasticityof suchportionofthetflange to cause a closing in .of the .flange v.un'derlherolled \edgeqls and thus prevent accidental displacementof the ring-shaped member 23 fromthe metalliccupportion 22.

Extending upwardly and forming a :continuation of the inner .flangelfl is a circular wall 29 that tapersinwardly asit extends upwardly and terminates at its upper edge 3.0 in .a perfect. circle that .is forwardly ofiset relative to thelarger circle formed at. said:-flange andithereby provides a substantially vertical forward wall portion 31 from whichsaid .circular wall graduallydecrease in inclinationas it extends .rearwardly. The circular upper edge 30 is arranged substantially parallel-to the annular flanges 26 and and is. oftsetiorwardlvto effect ansengagement thereof around .the motor housing .13 .upon supporting of the mix'ingcupon the standard-.11.

At .the rear of thewring-shaped :member 23 directly opposite the vertical .wall portion.31 -a downwardly dirested pocket .-.32 .is .provided which extends .-into the' lower metallic v.cup .portion by vuniting .the .lower. .ends and sides of downward extensions formed on'theinner flange '27 vand the -circular ,wall .29. The pocket'32 .is :of va -length :and depth for adequately. and conveniently. receiving. the downwardly, rojectingclip 18. ofthe upper. cup supporting element .16 .whemsupportin-g the .cup inthe position efiecting operation .of.,the,mixer, asshown inFigures "-1, 2, and 3.

To place the mixing-cup on the-.mixerzfor operation'of thetmixer, said. cup is :moved upwardlyaround the :agitators v15, iengaging thezclip "18 :into' the pocket 32 :and :engaging the upper .circularedge 3010f the :resilient'ring-shaped member :with the motor housing 513 :until :the :annular flange 72:4 -.on thebottomnf thecup canabe engaged over the raised ledge .19z0fithe lower cup supporting element 17. Upon lowering the cup. over the ledge 19, said resilient upper edge, which was sprung outwardly by upward movement of the cup, closes tightly around the motor housing and, due to the convex shape of the housing and location of engagement therewith, aids in holding the cup in its downward position on the lower supporting element 17. Instead of the rolled edge 26 of the metallic cup portion 22 engaging the finger 20 of the electric switch to close an electric circuit to the motor, the material of the ring-shaped member around the rolled edge and joining the flanges 26 and 27, which is relatively thin at such location, contacts and actuates said switch finger. Thus, it can be seen that the ring-shaped member and the lower portion of the motor housing combine to provide a complete closure for the cup to prevent splashing of ingredients from the cup and to keep all foreign matter from entering the cup while mixing a drink.

For closing off the interior of the cup and at the same time enclosing the agitators and stem 14 to prevent winged insects, dust, and other small particles of foreign matter circulating thereabout from contacting such parts when the mixer is not in operation, the cup may be supported on the mixer in the manner illustrated in Figure 4. In this case, the cup is slightly turned relative to the mixer with the clip 18 out of engagement in the pocket 32. Such a position is possible because the circle formed by the upper edge of the ring-shaped member which engages the motor housing is eccentric to the circles formed by the cup proper.

In Figure 5 is shown a slightly modified form of the invention wherein a metallic cup portion 33 of greater height is employed, and instead of the clip 18 of the upper supporting element projecting into the cup, said clip engages under a U-shaped bracket 34 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the outside of the cup and which actuates the switch finger 20. This construction eliminates the need of a pocket for the clip when completely sealing off the interior of the cup and materially reduces the height of the ring-shaped member designated generally by the numeral 35.

While embodiments of the invention are shown as being constructed of metallic and resilient parts, it is to be understood that the entire cup or other parts thereof not designated may be constructed of semi-resilient material which is capable of a limited degree of yieldment without permanent deformation or rupture thereto. Further, the constructional forms above-described and illustrated in the drawings are to be regarded as examples only, and the details may be modified in several ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A soda fountain mixer comprising a vertical standard, a motor supported by and forwardly of said standard, an agitator driven by and extending downwardly from said motor in front of said standard, a lower mixing cup supporting member on said standard, and a substantially cylindrical mixing cup removably engaging over said lower supporting member with said agitator extending downwardly therein, said cup having at least the upper open end portion thereof semi-resilient and adapted to yieldably engage around the housing of said motor, said mixing cup being removably supported in said position by said lower supporting element and by engagement of the upper open end thereof with said motor housing.

2. In combination with a soda fountain mixer including a vertical standard, a motor supported by and forwardly of said standard, an agitator driven by and extending downwardly from said motor in front of said standard, and a mixing cup removably supported on said standard beneath said motor and into which said agitator extends; a closure for the normally open end of said cup comprising a ring-shaped member retained on and bodily carried by the open end of the cup and adapted to removably engage around the housing of the motor and thereby close off the interior of the cup when said cup and closure are supported by said standard, said cup and said ring-shaped member bodily carried thereby being removable as a single unit from the remainder of said mixer.

3. In combination with a soda fountain mixer including a vertical standard, a motor supported by and forwardly of said standard, an agitator driven by and extending downwardly from said motor in front of said standard, an upper mixing cup supporting element on said standard, a lower mixing cup supporting element on said standard,

and a substantially cylindrical mixing cup removably supported on said standard with said agitator extending downwardly therein, said mixing cup being supported by engagement of said upper supporting element therein and by said lower supporting element therebeneath; a closure for the normally open end of said cup comprising a circular wall carried by and in sealing engagement with the circular edge of the open end of the cup and adapted to removably engage around the housing of said motor and thereby close off the interior of the cup when said cup is supported on said standard, said circular wall having a pocket formed therein projecting downwardly into said cup and into which said upper mixing cup supporting element extends.

4. In combination with a soda fountain mixer including a vertical standard, a motor supported by and forwardly of said standard, an agitator driven by and extending downwardly from said motor in front of said standard, an upper mixing cup supporting element on said standard, a lower mixing cup supporting element on said standard, and a substantially cylindrical mixing cup removably supported on said standard by engagement of said upper and lower supporting elements therewith, said cup being slightly inward of alignment with said motor when supported by said upper and lower supporting elements and having said agitator extending downwardly therein; a closure for the normally open end of said cup comprising a circular wall carried by the cup and with the lower portion thereof in sealing engagement with the circular edge of the open end of the cup and with the circular upper portion forwardly of the center line of the cup and adapted to removably engage around the housing of said motor and thereby close off the interior of the cup when said cup is supported on said standard, said cup also being supportable by said lower supporting element and engagement of the circular wall with the motor housing upon turning of said cup to disalign said upper supporting element from engagement with said cup.

5. In combination with a soda fountain mixer including a vertical standard, a motor supported by and forwardly of said standard, an agitator driven by and extending downwardly from said motor in front of said standard, an upper mixing cup supporting element on said standard, a lower mixing cup supporting element on said standard, and a substantially cylindrical mixing cup removably supported on said standard by engagement of said upper supporting element therein and said lower supporting element therebeneath, said cup being slightly inward of alignment with said motor when supported by said upper and lower supporting elements and having said agitator extending downwardly therein; a closure for the normally open end of said cup comprising a circular wall carried by the cup and with the lower portion thereof in sealing engagement with the circular edge of the open end of the cup and with the circular upper portion forwardly of the center line of the cup and adapted to removably engage around the housing of said motor and thereby close 01f the interior of the cup when said cup is supported by both of said supporting elements on said standard, said circular wall having a pocket formed therein projecting downwardly into said cup and into which said upper mixing cup supporting element extends, said cup also being supportable by said lower supporting element and engagement of the circular wall with the motor housing upon turning of said cup to disalign said upper supporting element with said pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

